Westby, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Westby is a city in Vernon County
, Wisconsin
, United States
. The population was 2,045 at the 2000 census.
, where many of the city's Norwegian-American settlers originated. The Coon Prairie Lutheran Church in Westby was begun in 1851.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,045 people, 840 households, and 554 families residing in the city. The population density
was 841.9 people per square mile (324.9/km²). There were 906 housing units at an average density of 373.0 per square mile (144.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.12% White (mostly Norwegian-American), 0.24% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.49% from other races
, and 0.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 840 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,340, and the median income for a family was $41,000. Males had a median income of $29,274 versus $21,429 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,839. About 4.9% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
. Tobacco
was formerly an important crop, Vernon County tobacco being used for the outer wrapper for cigars, with 120 employed in the tobacco warehouse in the 1930s.
Westby is served by a weekly newspaper, the Westby Times. The Norwegian flavor of the town is captured in the name of a store, Uff da
Mart.
Westby's most popular event is the Syttende Mai festival, an annual three-day event held in mid-May. The festival stems from Westby's Norwegian
roots, Syttende Mai being a Norwegian holiday ("Syttende Mai" translates to "Seventeenth of May") celebrating Norway's independence and the signing of the Norwegian Constitution.
The festival's main attractions are the cultural shops, where many Norwegian products are sold; the food stands; and the troll hunt. At the start of the weekend, a small troll, standing several inches tall, is hidden somewhere within the city limits. A clue is posted downtown on each of the three days until someone finds the troll. The prize for retrieving the troll is $50.
Westby has one of the largest ski jumps in the United States, where the Snowflake Ski Club
hosts an annual ski jump event at the end of January and the beginning of February. The event includes a parade to introduce all of the participating countries, a competition for "Snowflake" royalty, and opportunities for local businesses to sell their wares. The event attracts competitors from all over the ski jumping world.
Vernon County, Wisconsin
Vernon County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2009, the population estimate was 29,324. Its county seat is Viroqua.-History:...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,045 at the 2000 census.
History
Westby was named after general store owner and Civil War Union soldier Ole T. Westby of Biri, NorwayBiri, Norway
Biri is a village in the municipality of GjøvikOppland county, Norway. It was formerly classified as a municipality.The parish of Biri was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . On 1 January 1910, the district Snertingdal was divided from Biri to form a municipality of its own,...
, where many of the city's Norwegian-American settlers originated. The Coon Prairie Lutheran Church in Westby was begun in 1851.
Geography
Westby is located at 43°39′14"N 90°51′33"W (43.653861, -90.859034), at the headwaters of the Bad Axe RiverBad Axe River
The Bad Axe River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in southwestern Wisconsin in the United States. "Bad axe" is a translation from the French, "la mauvaise hache", but the origin of the name is unknown. The river's mouth at the Mississippi was the site of the Battle of Bad Axe, an 1832 U.S...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.3 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,045 people, 840 households, and 554 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 841.9 people per square mile (324.9/km²). There were 906 housing units at an average density of 373.0 per square mile (144.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.12% White (mostly Norwegian-American), 0.24% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.49% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 840 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,340, and the median income for a family was $41,000. Males had a median income of $29,274 versus $21,429 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,839. About 4.9% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The local economy was built on agriculture, with a strong tradition of cooperative businesses. With seven cooperatives still functioning, Westby has been referred to as "Co-op City". some of the more prominent co-ops are the Westby Cooperative Creamery, Vernon Telephone Cooperative, Heartland Country Coop, Westby Coop Credit Union, and Vernon Electric Cooperative. Another important local business, also based on agriculture and is also a Co-op, is Accelerated Genetics, formerly Tri-State Breeders. It produces cattle semen for artificial inseminationArtificial insemination
Artificial insemination, or AI, is the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the purpose of impregnating the female by using means other than sexual intercourse or natural insemination...
. Tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
was formerly an important crop, Vernon County tobacco being used for the outer wrapper for cigars, with 120 employed in the tobacco warehouse in the 1930s.
Westby is served by a weekly newspaper, the Westby Times. The Norwegian flavor of the town is captured in the name of a store, Uff da
Uff da
Uff da is an expression of Norwegian origin adopted by Scandinavian-Americans in the 19th century...
Mart.
Syttende Mai festival
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
roots, Syttende Mai being a Norwegian holiday ("Syttende Mai" translates to "Seventeenth of May") celebrating Norway's independence and the signing of the Norwegian Constitution.
The festival's main attractions are the cultural shops, where many Norwegian products are sold; the food stands; and the troll hunt. At the start of the weekend, a small troll, standing several inches tall, is hidden somewhere within the city limits. A clue is posted downtown on each of the three days until someone finds the troll. The prize for retrieving the troll is $50.
Westby has one of the largest ski jumps in the United States, where the Snowflake Ski Club
Snowflake ski jump
The Snowflake Ski Jump, a ski jumping hill located north of Westby, Wisconsin, United States, in Timber Coulee, is host to a ski jumping tournament taking place annually since 1961. The hill, currently seventh largest in North America, is a large hill, which means it has a K-spot of 106 meters...
hosts an annual ski jump event at the end of January and the beginning of February. The event includes a parade to introduce all of the participating countries, a competition for "Snowflake" royalty, and opportunities for local businesses to sell their wares. The event attracts competitors from all over the ski jumping world.
Notable residents
- Dexter BeanDexter BeanDexter Bean is a NASCAR driver. Bean has raced in ARCA and all three divisions of NASCAR. He made his Sprint Cup Series debut at 2009 Pocono 500, finishing 36th and 4 laps down. His team, BlackJack Racing, has attempted a number of races, but the Pocono event was the only race the team...
, NASCAR driver - Andrew H. DahlAndrew H. Dahl-Biography:Dahl was born on April 13, 1859 in Lewiston, Wisconsin. He attended high school in Viroqua, Wisconsin.-Career:Dahl was Supervisor of Westby, Wisconsin from 1896 to 1897 and was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1899 to 1901 and again from 1903 to 1907. Additionally, he was...
, Wisconsin State Assemblyman - Ludvig HektoenLudvig HektoenLudvig Hektoen was a noted American pathologist. Hektoen published widely and served as editor of a number of medical journals. In 1942, Hektoen received the American Medical Association's Distinguished Service Medal for his life's work.-Background:Hektoen was born into a Norwegian immigrant...
, pathologist